Francis

This story is for persons of eighteen years or over. All comments, good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

Part Fifteen

Two days later I was in Frobisher's office and looking at the photos that had been produced. They were terrific. I couldn't tell that they were fakes, and also that there had been this scare at the airport the day before. Armed with these, I went off to Naples the next day. I had cabled ahead so that a car was waiting for me and Carlo told me that he had called for a meeting with the Scarfe family heads and his own.

The next day, I was collected from my hotel and driven out to a large villa in the countryside. There were many cars and bodyguards hanging about and it made me very nervous. I was escorted into this villa and then into a large dining room that held about twenty people all seated round a large table and almost as many men behind lined up against the walls. I felt like Judas when I saw that Guido was seated at the table. I was given a seat, which I noticed was just half way between the two families.

All eyes were upon me as I took my place at the table and kept my eyes down as Carlo stood up and spoke to the assembled men in Italian. He spoke for several minutes before gesturing to me and then he finally turned to me.

`Miss Francis. I have told these men assembled here that you are an honourable member of the Leopardi family as can be seen by our emblem that you wear. I have told them that you had uncovered news that could be harmful to the family in London. You hinted, because of the phone lines being open to anyone who cared to listen, that it involved arms. Knowing what this meant, I called those present here to hear what you have to say in regard to this matter as it could be of vital importance to us all. Please speak in English as I know you do not speak Italian and everyone here has an interpreter.'

Carlo,' it came out as a croak, so I cleared my throat. Carlo. I came here to warn you, as being a member of the family so to speak. I didn't come to talk to others.'

`Francis. These people are my friends. If you have a warning for me, it might affect my friends also, because of the mention of the word, arms. So speak.'

`I...I have a friend of a friend who is in, I don't know the right word, but knows a lot of what goes on in the Government. They know of an arms shipment being made at this time to Ireland.'

There were gasps from round the table and an outburst of Italian from various people seated there. Carlos waved his hands and spoke, obviously calming them down. Many glances were being made towards Scarfe.

`Please continue Francis.'

`Well I've come to tell you that you have been betrayed. They know the ship and where it is to go, because I thought that you might be involved in the shipment.' More mutterings from around the table as my words were translated.

`What proof have you of this?' This came from Scarfe himself, and I feigned surprise at seeing him and started to stammer.

`C...Carlo. I'm afraid to say now.'

`Francis. Tell me.' Carlo said.

I shook my head and just passed the envelope across to him. He opened it and looked at each photograph in turn. Then he passed them around the table. The table had been seated so that the almost last person to see them would be Scarfe himself. The other exception being Guido. As they passed from hand to hand, the eyes all started to look at Scarfe until he had them in his hands. They were the originals of him talking to Guido and the others of Guido talking to an official of the British Government with a clear shot of the hepatitis scare in the background.

After the photos had left Carlos's hand, he had whispered to one of the men behind him who had then left the room. He came back with some newspapers that he handed to Carlos as the photos reached Scarfe.

Scarfe's face went white as he shuffled through them, and he threw them at Guido, screaming out a volume of Italian that didn't need interpreting. Guido's protestations went un-noticed in the outburst of Italian that followed from all the people sat there. At a sign from Scarfe, Guido was hauled out of his chair and dragged screaming from the room. Scarfe was shouting out at his fellow family members who were screaming at him. Carlos motioned for me to sit down which I promptly did, scared at this outcry. It took several minutes for Carlos to get their attention by banging as hard as he could on the table before he got silence and their attention.

I am sorry that this came out this way.' The translation I was given later. If I had known the contents of this envelope earlier, I would have been more circumspect in calling this meeting. But as we are not really involved in this affair, except in the matter of Guido, which I think you are going to deal with, I think it wise for us to withdraw and let you sort the rest out between you.' At this, the Leopardi contingent got up from their chairs, me being a fraction behind them, and we all trooped out of the villa and into our cars.

What a coup Francis,' he exclaimed slapping his thigh and laughing, what I wouldn't give to see what havoc we have caused back there.'

The havoc was soon seen. Guido was found the next day crucified upside down on one of the timbers of a wharf in Naples. His head was below the waterline, but he hadn't drowned because his throat had been cut. Two days later, Scarfe was shot to death inside his own home by we knew not whom. I got a savage fucking from Carlo that night in celebration.

It was a magnificent coup as far as the Leopardi family was concerned. A major rival expunged by his own family for losing millions of pounds as well as face, leaving them as top dogs in Italy and Sicily. My brooch was taken away from me and exchanged for a gold one. I was now on the inside and could attend any meetings of the family without hindrance, and, Carlo let it be known that I was sacrosanct to all Italians throughout the world.

Here, Carlo was proclaiming me third in their world after the Pope himself, Carlo being second. It made me dizzy and I think it would upset Frobisher when he got the news. I was supposed to keep a low profile and now look what I had done. I didn't want to go back home because I knew the reception I would get from him. But go back I had to, so with a heavy heart and a sore arse, I boarded the plane for London. First class of course.

I was not surprised to see a big black official limousine waiting out in the no parking area at the arrivals terminal at London airport. I didn't need to ask for whom the car rolled, it rolled for me. I got in the back as my baggage was stored in the boot before I was driven off to London. How did I guess when it pulled up outside the Foreign Office. I made my way up to Frobisher's office without an escort, and realised I was becoming one of the establishment. I thought, what the hell, in for a penny, in for a pound, so I knocked on the door and walked in without waiting for him to say either enter or fuck off.

`Oh hello Francis, you're early. I didn't expect you for another couple of hours, and my, you do look a little peaked. Why not go and have one of Palmer's lovely dinner's and an early night. I'll see you at ten tomorrow morning. Close the door on your way out.' Then he returned to reading a paper before him on the desk.

No outburst. No "Oh well done Francis". Nothing! Just "you look a little peaked" I mouthed to myself as I went out and shut the door. I was seething by the time I got back downstairs and out of the building.

`Do you have in built sensors or something,' I snapped at the driver of the car who had the door open waiting for me as I emerged. He just smiled at me as I got into the car. I didn't even have to tell him where to take me. He drove straight round to Harry's flat and passed my bags over to the doorman.

`You too?' I said sarcastically to Palmer who came out of the lift before I even reached it. He just lifted an eyebrow and collected my bags and we travelled up in silence. Harry was stretched out on the settee when I went in and I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bedroom and kissed him after slamming the door shut.

`Fuck me Harry and calm me down,' I said after kissing him fiercely, tugging his trousers open and pulling out his limp penis and going down, started to suck on him. He slipped the straps off my shoulders as he came erect, so that when I stood up, the dress slid straight off and pooled on the floor. I pushed him back to the dressing table so that he sat down on the stool and he had to lean back on his elbows as I got astride of him and held up his tool and sank straight down on it. We both gasped at the rough entry but I sank down till I was on his thighs and he was fully inside me. I threw back my head and gave out a groan as I felt his hardness pulsate and throb. I put my hands on his shoulders and moved myself up and down, loving the rasping sensation of doing it without cream or condom. I bent and kissed him as I moved and his hands came to my waist to help me in my movements.

`I'm starting to come,' he gasped, breaking the kiss. I held myself still as I let him start to buck his hips and felt his sudden jerks and body tremble as he shot out his load. He stopped with a sigh and I settled back down and used my inside muscles to squeeze him for the last drops.

I reluctantly got off him for him to stumble to the bathroom to wash himself and I followed to do likewise. I was starting to feel better for that and I got out a condom and put it on my erection.

`My turn now,' I said, applying some cream to the end. Harry grinned and went into the bedroom and knelt on the bed. I worked off the last of my anger at Frobisher by giving Harry a rather rough fucking, pumping hard into him and wishing that it was Frobisher underneath me taking it all.

`That was great,' Harry said as we lay on the bed together afterwards, him naked, me also, except for suspender belt and stockings.

`You should go away more often if that's what we can have every time you come back.'

`But I don't want to go away,' I said, stroking him between kisses,

`It's just this time I was mad at him. All I got was a hello, your back early and I looked a little peaked. I expected more than that!'

`Don't be too hard on him. He likes you, you know. I was told to treat you with tenderness and care before he introduced us.'

`He set us up?' I said sitting up and starting to get indignant again.

Calm down,' Harry said, pulling me back down into his arms. Disappointed are you?' he asked as he stroked my face.

No darling, you've been wonderful to and for me, and our friend here is getting strong again,' as I had stroked him to an erection. Will you make love to me again, I do need it.'

`Pull the pillows down then,' he said as he got off the bed to go to the bathroom. I placed the pillows down the bed and spread myself over them as him came back with his covered erection swinging as he walked. My legs went up as he got on the bed and he quickly entered and filled me. He looked down at me from above as he flexed his muscle within.

`I love you Francis,' he said as he slowly moved himself in and out of me.

`I love you too Harry. Now fuck me and give me pleasure.'

He did and I loved him for it.

Next morning, bathed, perfumed, make-up perfect, new stockings and a lovely summer frock on, I presented myself before Frobisher at precisely ten o'clock.

I must say you look delightful this morning Francis. Have you calmed down now?' He didn't wait for an answer before going on. You did a good job in Italy and that's the biggest haul of illegal arms that we've ever caught before.'

`And I got two men killed,' I added.

`Instead of the hundreds if those arms had got through. You know the omelette phrase. The only downside was your prominence. How can I train and run you as an undercover agent if you keep coming to the top of the heap? Nearly all of Italy must know your standing within the Leopardi family now, and that's not good.

`I got the job done and now, now you're telling me you want me as an undercover agent. Well thanks very much for asking me if I wanted to become one.' He smiled at me.

`You do like the excitement though.'

`Well, yes.' I saw him press a button on his phone.

`Well we'll have to get you fit.'

Wesson. I want two hours of physical training and the art of self defence to be taught to our tyro, plus an hour a day at the firing range. So I want you to kick the shit out of Francis till I get a little respect, like after knocking at the door, to wait to be called in instead of just barging in.' He looked back at me and smiled sweetly. Have fun Francis, good-day.'

I glared at him, but got up and went out with Wesson. Again we went down into the lower parts of what may have been the same building, but after all the different corridors and tunnels, I wasn't at all sure where I was. We then entered a well equipped gym with various pieces of apparatus and in the centre were mats.

Shoes off please. We don't want to damage the floor.' I then really noticed that he was wearing track suit bottoms and sneakers and a T shirt as he pulled off his sweater. I think you'd better change first as well.'

`I suppose if a man is about to attack me, I've to beg off to get changed first?' I said somewhat sarcastically.

`You do want some shit knocked out of you,' I heard him mutter as he walked to the centre of the mats. I grinned and followed him, leaving my high heeled shoes by the door. He turned round to face me and stood with his hands on his hips.

`Now come and hit me,' he said. I moved in close and swung at him and without hardly moving, caught my forearm and pulled me closer so that his hip caught mine and sent me spinning over to land on my back. This happened twice more before I changed direction and ducked down to come up at him. He was ready for that and one hand caught my arm as the other went to my crotch to toss me over.

When his hand felt my cock and balls beneath my frock, he froze. That's when I caught him squarely in the midriff, doubling him over so that he sat down gasping.

`That's one trick they didn't teach you then,' I said, panting from the previous exertions.

`I didn't know,' he grimaced, catching his breath.

`Well you're the only one in this building apart from Frobisher who knows, and that's the way it's got to stay.'

`It's amazing that I didn't catch on earlier. You certainly fooled me, and all the others. They're all waiting to be sent on an assignment with you to see who gets to bed you first. What a laugh that's going to be,' he said getting up from the floor.

No one is to know,' I repeated, and I think I'd better get changed if you're going to kick the shit out me.' He grinned and slapped me on the back and took me through to the changing room.

I spent the next six weeks being thrown, tossed and almost screwed to the mats, but I was starting to hold my own with him. I hadn't realised how easy it was to throw a heavy man like him over my hip till I was shown how. Knife, club, bicycle chain and other implements were used to show me how to defend myself against these attacks. Then we also had that hour at the firing range and with various pistols till I could at least hit the target with more than half of the shots fired. The targets being progressively moved further away the better I got.

It was during this time that Harry went into rehearsals for Hamlet. He had the part of Horatio, and one night in bed, I couldn't help but hold his limp dick in my hand after a good bout of sex to quote, "Alas poor Yorrick, I knew him well." We both laughed at this and I made him laugh again when I said that I wished Frobisher could play the part of Yorrick.

He had his rehearsals and I had my training. Though after that first day, I began wearing my thong so that I could wear shorts, though I still wore the padded bra under my T shirt in case anyone wandered in and saw me. The best technique I developed was that when somebody came at me was to suddenly drop at the last moment using my legs as scissors behind the knees while the heel of my shoe went for the crotch. Then up quickly to stamp into the stomach, chest or throat as the man lay prone on the ground.

I learnt during these sessions that Wesson had been in the Commandos during the war, and had gone out on several dangerous missions where it was kill or be killed. In the field, he was to become my back up as well as bodyguard

At the opening night of Hamlet, I was escorted by Frobisher, and this time we had the box closest to the stage and I loved every minute of it. Needless to say, he declined to come to supper with us, so just Harry and I celebrated with champagne in bed that night. Just before we had parted, Frobisher asked if I would see him in his office in the morning instead of doing the training session.

`Two things I want to ask. When was the last time you wore a man's clothes and can you get your hair cut?' I was rather taken aback by these questions and I really had to think about the first one.

`Er, it was when I joined the Merchant Navy, nearly three years ago. Then I only wore trousers for about three months, and why should I cut my hair?'

`I have a job coming up where I want you to be a transvestite to do a club circuit in Europe. It should only be for about three weeks, but you've got to be a man who dresses up as a woman for the stage. We can fix you up with a wig for the shows and after that, you can grow it again.'

I loved my hair and was quite proud of it and my hand went up involuntary to stroke it. As for a man's clothes, I didn't have any, only Donald's, and they were too big to fit me.

`Do I have to?'

`Yes. You are to start off from France, so we only need a suit to get you there and then you can get a French tailored set of clothes there. You can have your hair cut here before you go.'

I then thought of the wig I had made for Diane, and realised to my chagrin, that I hadn't given a thought to her and the baby which surely must have been born by this time. I had been so wrapped up in myself that I hadn't had the time to think of anybody but myself.

`Can I have a day off?' as I explained what I wanted to do, and he agreed. So a car and driver was put at my disposal and I went straight off down to Dorset. I bought some gifts on the way and was there in the late afternoon.

Where have you been!' was the greeting by Diane as she hugged me. I've written and phoned, but nobody knew where you were.'

I've been away,' I lied, and this is the first place I've called at. I've not even been home yet.' I held her away from me for a moment to look at her stomach. It was as flat as it used to be. `You've had the baby then?'

`Yes,' she cried and I gave her a big kiss.

`Boy or girl?' I asked as she led me into the house.

`A beautiful baby boy. Born six weeks ago.'

`Show me, show me,' I cried, and I was led into the lounge where a carriage was, and there was a lovely sleeping baby. Round puffed cheeks and blonde hair peeping out of a knitted cap, his fist clenched outside the covers.

He's beautiful,' I whispered, what's his name?'

Francis,' Diane said quietly, after his father.'

I stood up shocked. I think I went a little pale.

`What about Ralph? I thought he was the father.'

`I said when I told you both that I didn't know which of you was the father. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that the hair told us. Ralph's and all of his family have black hair.'

`Where's Ralph now?' I asked as I looked around the lounge.

Gone,' she said dully. He left two weeks ago. It was a rather bitter parting, but, that's life.'

What did he say?' I took hold of her arms. What did he say?' Diane just shook her head, so I shook the rest of her.

`Tell me! Tell me what he said before he left.' She was starting to cry now so I took her into my arms and held her tight as she sobbed.

`He...he said that...that he wasn't going to work just to rear somebody else's child. If...if you could afford to have bought the house, you could afford to bring up the child. With that, he packed his bags and left.' She was really crying now and all I could do was hold her and let it all come out. When she was near the end of the jag, I sat her down and found the drinks cabinet and poured us both a stiff drink. I then went out and spoke to the driver and gave him some money to find an hotel for the night and to pick me up in the morning.

`Frobisher's not going to like it.'

`Fuck Frobisher, and you can tell him that if you want to. Phone him and tell him I'll be back tomorrow.' I went back into the house and sat down with Diane. We had another drink and then said that she shouldn't really drink as she was still breast feeding the baby, but she drank it all the same. When the baby woke up, I was only too happy to sit there and watch it suckle on that breast that I also liked to suck on. I even helped change his nappy when his meal was over, laughing and chuckling with him, his blue eyes smiling up at me as I tickled him.

With him cleaned and fed, he went off to sleep again and Diane fixed us a small dinner, which we ate mostly in silence. We sat and cuddled on the settee in front of the fire afterwards and I explained that I couldn't say where I'd been or that I was going to get into trouble for not going back that night.

`I guessed that you would rather have me stay tonight for some comfort,' I said.

`You're right and you came at the right time. I was so depressed this morning, it was only Francis that has kept me going. Then like a ray of sunshine you appeared, thank you Francis,' she said as she kissed me. The kiss was friendly at first but turned into a passion and hunger that almost overwhelmed me.

`Take me to bed Francis and hold me and make love to me,' she whispered, tears in her voice in case I refused. But I took her hand and helped her up from the settee and I carried little Francis upstairs and helped Diane settle him in his cradle before we went into her room. I saw the room as though I was outside and looking in, seeing two women undress before it was revealed that one was actually a man before they got into bed to hold each other tight. We kissed, but her urgency was great and soon I was aroused and rolled over and entered her and made the loving as slow as I possibly could to give her the most satisfaction from our coupling. She had a shuddering orgasm and clutched me tighter as I too let go and cried out at the release and we both then grinned at each.

`Like old times eh?' she smiled up at me.

`Like old times,' I said as I slowly pulled out of her and rolled to one side and then gently stroked a heavy breast.

The baby woke up during the night and Diane got up and went and fed it before returning to bed, where we just dozed and talked. Then as it got light we made love again and slept till little Francis told us it was time for breakfast. With him fed, we too had breakfast and I told Diane that I had to go back up to London and would be away for a little while, but would come as soon as I was back. I stayed till the car turned up outside the gate and I gave little Francis a kiss and also Diane and said goodbye and watched her waving as I left. No, I hadn't forgotten the wig; we had dug it out of the chest just after our meal and was now with me in the car.

The first thing I did when I got back to London was to ring up Truell and settle an allowance on Diane. Then I went to the office.

`Well?' was all I got from Frobisher when I sat down before him. I told him of the circumstances that kept me back.

Accepted. That detail escaped me.' A rare admission from him I thought. Now. This is your assignment. Do you smoke?' This threw me.

`No.'

Well practise, even if you only puff at the damn things. Learn quickly how to put it in your mouth,' I'm damn sure he hid a smirk as he realised what he had said, Light it and give it a few puffs. I say this, because,' he pushed a rather chunky chrome lighter towards me. it is also a miniature camera. Pick it up.' I did this as he continued, hold it sideways and press with your right hand the top sides of the lighter and pull at the bottom with your left.' This I did, and a small section slid out and I could see that there was a small lens in the bit that popped out.

Now point it and press with your top finger of your right hand.' This I did and there was the faintest of clicks. Good. Now you push the end back in and it rewinds it ready for the next picture. You do the same procedure to take the next one. The camera holds twenty frames and this is what I want you to carry. For what, I'll come to that in a minute.

First, you are going over to Paris, dressed as a man. I think Harry can lend you a suit for that. There you will get a wardrobe of French designed clothes because you are going out as a Frenchman because you speak perfect French. Your name will be Jacques Duvall, spelt with two L's. There's a passport here in that name. Mother's name was Simone and your father's Henri and you lived in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The address and other details are in this folder. Stay in some small hotel to start with until your wardrobe is ready, funds will be provided for this. Then you will appear at "The Venus Club", where you've been booked to perform for one week. It is a well known transvestite place.

This is to establish your antecedents in case of any back checks others may later make. After the one week stint there, you go to Hamburg. "Der Cherubs" the club is known as, for another week before going to Berlin. The club there is called the "Blue Angel". Pictures galore of Marlene Deitrich, but it is still a Transvestite venue.

Now a certain Russian General makes frequent visits to this place and I want you to be picked up by him. He lives just outside Berlin in the Russian sector, here is his photograph.' He passed this across for me to look at. He was in uniform and looked about forty something, greying slightly at the temples.

`He quite often takes one of the performers there back to his house for the night. They always return by official car the next morning. Now you've got to be picked up by him and taken to his house. Now we want photos of his study, the safe in it and pictures of the windows etc. Also of the alarm system which we know is in the hall. You take these pictures with the lighter camera and on your return to Berlin, Wesson will take the camera from you and see that we get it. After that, you return back home, via Paris of course. Now any questions?'

`So Wesson is going with me?'

`No. He'll be there at all times. You'll see him probably on the flight. You will definitely see him in the clubs that you go to, and he will step in if you get into any difficulties, but try to manage on your own. If you have anything to say to him, make it as a casual stop at his table or something, but otherwise don't draw attention to him. He has to keep a low profile to protect you. The only time he cannot help is from when you've crossed the border into the Russian Zone. You're on your own from there on till you return back out of their zone.'

`About getting my clothes?'

`A taxi man will have your name, Duvall, on a card at the arrival hall. He will take you to be outfitted and then to a pension. Wesson will meet with you and give you the itinerary. Here's a couple of packs of cigarettes for you to practise with tonight. If asked, you say you prefer the English cigarettes because they are milder than the French ones. That lighter doesn't have a film in it, it's only for you to get used to working it. The loaded one will be given to you in the car that will collect you in the morning. You are booked on the nine thirty flight in the morning. So have a pleasant evening trying on Harry's clothes but don't forget to pack some dresses for your shows.'

I had many things to ponder over while I lay in the bath back at Harry's place. Notwithstanding the mission I was going on, but what to do about Diane and my baby Francis. What a tangle that was getting in to, him having a father who'd spent almost all his life dressed and acting as a woman. Trying to find the solution was boiling up my mind as I lay in the hot water. These thoughts fled from my mind when Harry came bursting into the bathroom, naked as a jay bird and jumped in the bath with me. With the aid of soap after some horsing around, we managed to fuck each other amid all the bubbles and had great fun doing it.

Then I dressed and made myself up with care to go to the theatre with him and watch him on the stage. It was another romp later in bed when I told him I would be away for a few weeks and that I had to borrow one of his suits. He laughed at that and got great fun out of getting me dressed up the next morning in one of his suits.

How strange, tight and constricting I found this. I'll admit that I could take longer strides, but that was the only advantage I could see. The shirt collar was so constricting, as was the tie, which he had to do up for me. I'd had my haircut after I had left Frobisher the day before and I now found it horrible to try and handle. It seemed to go every other way instead of the way I wanted it to.

Eventually, Palmer came in to tell us that the car was there, so with a tearful kiss, I said goodbye and flew down the stairs leaving Palmer to bring my bags down to the car. Wesson was already in the car and when my bags were stowed, we set off for the airport to part and meet up later at the pension in Paris.

I flew in the name of Gervaise Lyon, my other British passport and was met at Orly airport as arranged. From the airport I was taken direct to a couturiers where I took one suit off the peg as it were and had two others promised in two days. I didn't collect them.

The next day, as I had four days before I was due to start at the Venus club, went out on a sightseeing trip. I walked up the Avenue des Champs- Elysees towards the Arc de Triomphe and saw that crowds had started to gather so I went with the flow till we came to a barrier that was to hold people back. I asked a member of the crowd what was it all about, and was told that President Vincent Auriol was due to come past. So I waited with the rest for this great man of France to come past. I then noticed a fidgety man a few feet away from me keep touching his breast pocket and casting furtive looks up along the avenue. Soon, a cavalcade of cars appeared and I saw this man grip hold of the flimsy barrier with whitened knuckles and I had a premonition of what he was about to do. So as the convoy of cars started to come abreast of us, I was as ready as he was, and when he moved and jumped over the barrier, I was right behind him.

I saw the gun come out into his hand as I flew in with my leg scissors movement. I'd not done this before from behind, but it was just as effective. The gun went off as he fell forward and I was soon up on top of him, wrestling with his wrist to try to get the gun away from him. The gun went off again and I had felt as though I'd been kicked in the side. Shit, shit, shit, I screamed at him, knowing I'd just been shot. I was still holding him when Gendarmes suddenly engulfed us. The man was wrestled away from me and I fell back, blood pouring from my side that felt as if it was on fire. There was much shouting and in a haze of pain I saw all these faces swirling about me. Hands were pressing at my side and others were trying to lift me. I tried to fight them off but I was lifted up and placed on what I think was a wheeled stretcher and the next thing I saw was the inside roof of an ambulance. A mask was put over my face and I felt a pinprick in my arm as I then passed out.

I woke up with a horrible dry taste in my mouth, but couldn't swallow because there was some kind of tube between my lips.

He's awake, I heard a voice say, and then there was a nurse, rather pretty, I think, bending over me. The tube was taken from my mouth and water or some other liquid was eased in for which I was grateful. I then went back to sleep and when I awoke the next time, it was Wesson that I saw.

`Hello,' I said weakly.

`Not bad for a first effort, but you should have got that gun hand earlier. Didn't I teach you anything?' he said.

`Frobisher will be mad,' I mumbled.

Mad! He's spitting feathers,' was the reply from Wesson. Smith told me that Frobisher slammed down the phone when he got the news, exclaiming, Shit! The stupid bitch has done it again. Right in front of the French President this time.' It's nice to know he still thinks of me as a female I thought as I drifted off again.

When I was fully awake and able to comprehend what was going on, they told me the full story. It was some Algerian fanatic that had tried to shoot the French President, and that it was my presence of mind that had prevented him. They showed me all the newspapers that carried the story. Pictures of the captured man, me on the floor covered in blood, (Again. Shades of Aden), and some of Auriol. I had police round my bed asking questions as to how did I know? What was I doing there in the first place etc. The British consul was there trying to keep people away from me (on Frobisher's instructions), and Wesson hovering in the background. The latter two between them, got me out of the hospital and into a private clinic to keep me away from the press, but someone in the police department had released my name, so there was nothing I could do from that point on.

I was back in England some time before it was announced that Gervaise Lyon, an Englishman was to be presented with, giving it the full title, Lorre de la Legion d'Honneur. This would be when he was fully recovered from his ordeal in the saving of the life of the President of France, but that's jumping ahead slightly.

It appears to have been a difficult task to keep the press at bay, but I was finally whisked away from this clinic to another in the South East of England. I had lost a lot of blood and they reckoned it would take at least three months before I would be able to walk about under my own steam. Talking of steam, Wesson got the full blast of it from Frobisher with having to cancel my cabaret tour and put things on hold for awhile, being told, unjustly, that he should have prevented this from happening.

After a month, during which time my eighteenth birthday came and went by without anyone really noticing it, they said I could leave provided that I would still let myself be treated by a nurse. I had pestered them long enough I gather to let me go. I elected to go to Diane's house rather than my own because of the press details of my name. She was glad to see me, though not really in the condition that I arrived. But she wouldn't hear of me going anywhere else. I had funds to be able to have a private nurse, though I only had her visit to check me out. Diane fed and cared for me as well as to looking after our son. A week later, Harry showed up and was made to stay. He'd finished the Hamlet stint and was now free. I unashamedly told Diane, with Harry there, that he had taken the place of Donald in my life and that I didn't want to be forced into the position of having to choose between them. Diane decided that Harry should stay with us until I was fit and able to do things for myself.

That was only one of my problems solved for the moment, but the others needed a great deal of thought. I can't list them in any order of priority as you will see for yourself.

Diane was the mother of my child, fact. Do I marry her and give the child my name officially. To do that would give name to the lie I had been living for over eighteen years in my own village, and how many would be hurt by that revelation. That is not to mention what would then be thought of Donald! I now found out that I loved Harry as much as I did Diane and as much as I had Donald. I think I needed Harry more than Diane needed me. She couldn't give me what Harry could; a full and satisfying sex life, but it was baby Francis that cropped up in the equation with regard to Diane. Likewise I couldn't reveal myself to the village for reasons mentioned. I was in turmoil as I lay there in bed, being waited on hand and foot while the wound in my side healed. Then there would be the wrath of Frobisher to face in the near future. Oh what a Gordian Knot I had contrived for myself. I was no Alexander with a sword to cut this.

It was the middle of December before I was able to move about and take part in the household downstairs. I'd had constant attention from both of them during my stay in bed. When Diane was seeing to the baby, Harry was with me. Both without the other knowing, as I was getting better, gave me blow jobs to keep my spirits up and I was grateful to them both for this consideration. Now I was downstairs and able to move about, I gave a half hearted attempt to help with the Christmas decorations. I made money available to buy what we needed for Christmas and we were very cosy in the house in this period.

I needed sex, Harry needed it and so did Diane if she would only speak the truth in this matter. I had to bring it out into the open to try and solve the problem all round.

Then it hit me! Well, it solved one problem though it created another which would be hard to explain. I had to invent a twin brother! It was him who had saved Vincent Auriol. I had been travelling on a passport, as a male, whose name was Gervaise Francis Lyon. Why not a twin brother separated at birth and not known of till this event. I was in France and at the time of the death of my parents, had been collected by my aunt and taken back to England to be raised. But what if my twin brother had been in hospital under the care of an old retainer and didn't know to where or by whom I had been whisked away. This old retainer then reared the child, having more than enough funds, fleeing from France during the war etc. There were lots of holes in the story, but who was really going to go into much detail if I announced the fact myself.

`How are you going to be in two places at the same time?' Harry asked.

`I haven't been home in the village for, what, six months? What are a few more months or years even. I can let them know that through this incident with M. Auriol, I went and found out that he really is my brother. Then when I turn up in the village as him, he's my twin don't forget. They'll recognise me and say how much like my sister I am. My hair is cut short now and I can wear a wig when I am Francis.'

`They won't swallow that,' said Diane.

It's a farce worthy of Moliere. Preposterous,' put in Harry, but he grinned to belie his words, but I like it.'

I'll pick it over until the bones show through on it,' I said, but there is another matter that must be resolved. I love both of you and don't want to hurt either of you by saying the wrong thing.' I took hold of a hand of each. I love you both and you, I think, love me.' I squeezed their hands to stop them from speaking. Harry,' I said looking at Diane, can give me what I will always need, and you can't do that. Diane,' I said to Harry, has already given me what you can't give me, though I like trying,' I said with a grin. They both gave a chuckle at what I meant. `Diane has given me a son. I would like you to marry me Diane so that little Francis will have my name and all that I can give him, but I cannot give up Harry for reasons that I've already said. This is the quandary I'm in. I love you both but do not want to lose either of you but still give Francis what he deserves.'

`I can't Francis. It would have to be all or nothing,' she said after a few minutes silence. More followed until it was broken by Harry.

It's not my place to really say anything in this except that I am the one to gain the most by having the company of Francis all the time, but that's not what Francis is really saying. What he is saying is that you can marry him, but you don't have to live with him. Wait, let me finish,' as Diane started to interrupt. It will be just a piece of paper that might be of enormous value. What if he went off on a jaunt and comes off worse, God forbid. Little Francis gets nothing. But this little bit of paper means that your future and that of little Francis will be secure. At least it gives the baby a name, a name to be proud of instead of being called other names when he can't name his father. I'm sure that if you met someone else, Francis wouldn't hesitate to let you have a divorce, but at least little Francis will not be shamed. But I believe that Francis has still got a long way to go in this life and I believe his star is well on its way to glory in one way or another.' Again, the room was silent as these words of Harry hung in the air.

`Can we leave this till after Christmas. Give me time to think what you both have said. Thank you Harry for your advice and thank you Francis for asking me, but let's not my answer spoil Christmas.

It didn't, but it could still be felt in the air. There was a certain amount of tension and I did what I could to relieve it by letting Harry fuck me during that period whilst I fucked Diane, at different times of course. Now that my side was healing, I became like a ping pong ball between bedrooms, trying to please both of them without giving offence to the other. We still didn't have an answer at New Years Eve, and after having a quiet word with Harry, who understood, that after we had seen in the year 1950, I went to bed with Diane. An anniversary so to speak.

Two days later she agreed to a marriage; on paper. So we were married three weeks later and two days after that, Harry and I returned to London. We'd only been in the flat for one day when Palmer came into the bedroom; the first time he'd done this ever since I'd been there. He didn't show any qualms about seeing us in bed together, though I'm damn sure he knew what was what.

`Sorry to intrude like this, but Frobisher was adamant that I interrupted whatever might be happening to give you his summons to both present yourselves at his office immediately, sir,' he seemed to tack the sir on the end of the message.

`Oh Lord. He must have the bit between his teeth to send for both of us,' said Harry getting out of bed.

`Once more before we go to the scaffold Harry. We don't know what he has planned, so let's hope that this won't be the last time,' I said as huskily as I could. I watched him immediately begin to stiffen up and he went to the bathroom and was soon back to see my rear presented ready for his penetration. Somehow, a good fuck in the morning does wonders for me. The heavy panting as his weight on my hips increases with his thrusting and the feel of a hard cock soothing my inner passage excites and calms me down at the same time. With him pulling my bum up tight to his thighs and feel the heavy throb inside me as he comes is a wonderful tonic to start the day.

We showered and had a quick breakfast as I dressed in a nice floral print dress though I had to leave off the stockings because my side was still too sore to take the suspender belt, and I carefully made up my face, ready to face the ogre. We were soon in his office and we were not invited to sit down. He had glared at us as we entered, but it was several minutes before he flung his pen down and faced us.

`Well? Explain yourselves. You've been missing for nearly two months and not a word. Though it was not reported in the press, a certain Gervaise Lyon married a Diane Lovell of Dorset with a certain right Honourable Mr Henry Brougham as best man and witness. What the hell is going on and why wasn't my permission asked first?'

Excuse me sir,' I said, but you are not my father.'

`I may not be your sire, but by God I am your God, Holy Ghost and the whole fucking Trinity whilst you are employed by this office and paid by this Government, you will do as you are told!'

`I haven't been paid at all yet,' I tried to point out.

`That's beside the point! When I say jump, you jump. When I say speak, you speak; you don't even fart without permission. Who told you to jump on that assassin and fuck up my schedule? You made a right holy mess of all the extensive arrangements. Why?' His face was quite red from this outburst.

`The man was going to kill the French president, sir.'

`I don't care if he was going to kill the whole fucking French assembly, you fucked up my plans. Back to this bloody marriage. Why was this done?'

I had to stand there for a whole ten minutes explaining the situation as I saw it. From the revelation of Gervaise Lyon down to giving the child a name and what I'd planned to cover all the bases that I could think of. I also asked if he could supply the documentation to carry this through. Only when I'd finished were we told to sit down.

`What do you think of this?' he asked of Harry.

`I'm delighted sir. I get to have Francis all to myself.'

`You're a cun...couldn't you think of anything else but, oh never mind. Well it sounds okay Francis, but I'm sure it'll backfire somewhere. How are you feeling now? Fit and ready for work?'

`Still sore, but I'd like another couple of weeks yet before getting thrown around the mats again by Wesson. Also I need to get the ball rolling in regard to Gervaise.'

`Okay. Two weeks, and I'll see to the bits and pieces that you want.' He turned back to the papers on his desk, so we got up and walked as quietly as we could out of his office.

`What do we do now?' Harry asked, and I hugged his arm.

`Let's go back to bed.' So we went back to the flat and spent the whole afternoon lying head to tail, me sucking on my favourite stick. Even that pleasure can only last a certain amount of time and, by mutual agreement, we worked at each other till we both came in gouts of ooze into each other's throat before licking the opposing member clean. We showered and got dressed, and after a light early supper, went off to the theatre to see his crowd of friends in Macbeth. We went off with some of the cast afterwards to a party and got back to the flat around four a.m. quite the worse for drink.

Next morning I started the introduction of Gervaise into my life. First I phoned Mr. Truell in Trowbridge to ask if he'd seen the papers in regard to the attempted assassination of President Vincent Auriol. He'd said he had, and didn't believe me when I told him that I had traced the man, because of his name, and had found out that it was my twin brother. He out rightly refused to believe it.

`You'll believe it all right when you see him. He's already in England recuperating and I'll be sending him up to see you. He'll have all the necessary papers to prove who he is and I want you to open a bank account in his name. Please put in it, oh, sixty thousand pounds. That'll do for a start. It really is his money,' I countered the blusterings of Truell. Flora was thrilled at the news and said that it was like a fairy tale. I told her to prepare the house for when he arrives, and I said that I couldn't come because I was back off to France on a cabaret tour.

`Can you hear it?' I asked of Harry.

`What?'

`The sound of the ball starting to roll. All I have to do now is wait for those papers from Frobisher.'

What do I do with you gone?' Harry asked somewhat downcast. I'm out of Macbeth, and there won't be another production for at least six weeks yet. Can I come along? You know, friend of Francis and acting as an English guide and companion, in case the wound goes bad or something.'

`Good idea Harry. Mmmm, you are sweet,' I said, giving him a kiss.

Two days later, the papers were delivered along with a note saying that my presence was required in Paris, for I knew what, in three weeks time. This suited my plans and I checked over the papers and saw that they were just right. The guys down in the forgery section know their job. The birth certificate was old and creased giving the right date of birth and names of both parents, all written in French of course. Then there was an old letter, even more creased, purportedly from my mother to a friend. It explained that Gervaise was separated from me because he had the chicken pox and was being looked after by an old friend, and would be collected when the infectious period had passed. The letter was dated the day before the air crash. The other item was a faded picture of a man and woman in a garden, and on the back were my mother and father's names and the date, March 1925.

So the next morning, after a healthy belt up the rear by Harry, we got dressed for our journey of adventure. I still felt strange being dressed up in a suit, but I would have to get used to this. It was around lunch time when we got to Trowbridge, and I had Truell's office address written down on a piece of paper which I could wave at him.

`Well are we ready?' I said to Harry as I pulled my jacket down straight, the cut of which was definitely not English.

`Oh yes. This is going to be fun,' he replied, and in we went

Oh my God,' stuttered Truell, half getting up from his chair as we were ushered into his office. Francis said I wouldn't believe it.'

`You are the Mr Truell that I was told to visit?' I asked giving my English a small trace of a French accent as I waved the piece of paper before him.

`Yes, yes, er Mr...er. It's incredible! We had no idea...Please, please be seated.'

`This is Mr Henry Brougham, a friend of Francis who has kindly agreed to accompany me and help me with any language difficulties, also in case I feel unwell from my er, recent activities.'

`Your English is perfect Gervaise,' Harry said with a laugh.

`Pleased to meet you Mr Brougham,' Truell said offering his hand.

`Your servant sir,' said Harry shaking the hand before sitting down next to me.

`This really is a surprise I can tell you,' said Truell.

`It was to me too. When Francis walked into the 'ospital, she caused an 'avoc. It made me shook up I can tell you. She tell me to show you these papers and here also is my passport.' I handed all these over to him, and by the way he looked at the letter, I could see that he didn't speak French. To test this out, I asked him in that language if he could understand what the fuck he was looking at. I got a blank look in return

Sorry,' I said, reverting back to English, maybe you would like my Harry here to translate for you?' Truell gratefully passed them back across and Harry related what was written.

`Francis and I pieced to pieces together, is that the correct way?' I turned to Harry.

Nearly, but we understand what your meaning is,' Harry grinned, but you shouldn't try to overdo it.' He finished with a meaningful look. `Just speak as you feel. If it's really wrong, I will correct you.'

Merci,' I said, letting him see just the tip of my tongue. He had a job to keep a straight face. As I was speaking, no, saying,' giving a triumphant look towards Harry for the benefit of Truell. `Francis and I put it together. As you heard, I caught the pox and was looked after by a nurse so that I shouldn't infect Francis. Now when the hospital learned of the air crash, they didn't know what to do, so this nurse, who only worked as a, er, volunteer? She took me to her family home, with my little bag of things which contained those papers, except the passport of course. In the meantime, one of my aunt's came and collected Francis and took her to England. Neither the aunt nor Francis knew that I was left there. When the nurse tried to find Francis, she couldn't. I don't think there was any malicious intent on her part, but they didn't try very hard to find her. So I was brought up in this family and who I work for now as part of them in the wine trade. It was easy for Francis to back track on my upbringing and there we are. As soon as I could be moved, she brought me over to England and stayed with an old friend of hers, Diane, in Dorket.'

`Dorset,' Harry corrected me.

`Yes. Do you have any questions to ask of me?' I asked Truell.

`No, no. I had a multitude of questions to ask, but I can see that I do not have to ask any of them. The papers are in order as is the story. The clincher is that I don't think I could tell the difference between the two of you. All I have to say is welcome to England and to give you this. It is a bank book and a cheque book at the local bank just down the road. Money has been put in there for your use.'

`Please, is there a flower shop here. I want to take some flowers for the graves, you know.'

`Certainly. I will give you directions. If you'll excuse me for a moment. I will have my secretary phone to the village for Francis's car to come and collect you.' He got up and left the room. Harry winked at me and leaned back, crossing his legs as he gave me a broad smile.

Shall we go then,' Truell said smiling. I'll take you to the bank first where you can get some money out, and then to the florist's. By then, Allen will be here.'

`Allen?' I asked.

`Allen Farthing. He does the driving for Francis. He'll tell you more of the village later.' The three of us then went to the bank where a slip was filled out for me to sign my name and I finished up drawing out five hundred pounds. There was much whispering by the staff and I kept getting pointed looks. Then we collected two bouquets, though I really wanted to buy four, but I couldn't under the circumstances. Then when we came out, I could see the black Rolls Royce waiting and a smiling Allen.

`Good afternoon sirs,' he said as he opened the rear door for us to get in.

`Very nice,' Harry said as he got in. I handed him the flowers.

`Thank you Mr Truett,' I said, shaking his hand.

`Truell Mr Lyon, Truell,' I was corrected.

`Yes. Thank you Mr Truell. I hope to see you again soon.' Harry was grinning as I got in and he gave my leg a squeeze. Allen got in and then drove us off to the village and home. One hurdle was over, now it left Flora and Beatrice. Allen had already accepted it, so let's see if the rest of the village will.

`I was stunned sir, as was the rest of the village to hear the news. I can see that there isn't any doubt that your Miss Francis's twin. Beatrice will be tickled pink when she sees you.'

`Tickled pink?' I asked.

`It's just an English expression. One of humorous joy,' said Harry.

`Does that mean I have to tickle her to make her go pink?' I asked. Harry had difficulty in keeping the smile off his face. Allen, driving, laughed out loud at this, and it gave him an anecdote to relate later.

Who is this Beatrice?' I asked of Allen. You must tell me of the others too.'

`Beatrice is my wife and she is like a housekeeper for Miss Francis, and you too now sir. Then there is Flora. That's Beatrice's mother. She does the cooking for the evening meal. Miss Francis always used to see to her own breakfast and lunch.'

`And you just drive the car?'

`Oh no sir. I also help out as a handyman. I see to the lanes, that is, keep them clean and tidy. I also look after the cemetery.' He carried on giving a breakdown of the village's inhabitants and their habits and standing within the community. It was quite an amusing revelation to me. As we came into the village, we turned into the lane where quite a few people were gathered.

That,' I glanced back, is what I think you call the Public House, no?' Both Harry and Allen laughed.

`It's either called the pub or the local. We must call in there later and have some good old English beer,' Harry said.

The car pulled up outside my house and Allen quickly opened the door. Flora and Beatrice were at the front door, and I could see Peter in the vicarage garden watching us. There were also a couple of the villagers there with him.

`Well I never,' I heard Flora say and Beatrice could only utter an ooh. The both gave me a bob as I approached them.

`Welcome home sir. I must say I'm really at a loss for words.'

`First time eh ma?' Allen said bringing up the rear.

You must be Flora,' I said taking her hand and brushing it with my lips, and this must be your charming daughter, Beatrice I believe.' I also took her hand and kissed it too. She simpered as she did another bob and disappeared inside.

`I am devastated that Mr. Towell didn't tell me you would be here. The flowers I brought are for the churchyard, if I had only known, Mon Dieu!'

It was fun being told about my own house and what went on, but then I interrupted the flow to say that I wanted to pay my respects at some graves, so Harry and I escaped back outside. We went towards the church and Peter was there, waiting for us at the gate.

Welcome to our humble village Mr Lyon,' he said extending his hand. My word you are the spitting image of your sister. Oh my name is Peter Blake, the reverend of this parish. I gather that you visit the resting place of your mother and father?'

`That is correct.'

`Let me show you, if you would follow me.' Harry and I followed on that well worn path that I knew so well. He stopped where they were buried and waited. I took the two bouquets from Harry and stood in front of them for a minute.

`Do you mind if I could be left alone for a moment.'

`Of course. I apologise,' Peter said, and started to withdraw with Harry.

`One moment. What are these other graves here alongside?'

`That what you can see, is the grave of your parents. The next two are of the aunts that raised Francis. The other is that of the last rector here. If fact it was this man here that saved your sister's life, though it cost him his own.' Tears came to my eyes and I had to turn away so that Peter couldn't see them.

`Then I think they deserve some of these flowers too. Thank you very much.' As he left me, I split the bouquets and then I knelt down and placed some of them on Donald's grave and said a little prayer for him. Then I laid the rest on the other three graves, saying a prayer at each.

Then I rejoined them and thanked Peter and went back to the house with Harry. There, Flora had prepared a wonderful dinner, and she was helped by Beatrice to serve us. I let Harry choose the wine while I fielded questions from Flora and I was glad when the meal finished. She and Beatrice went off home leaving just the two of us together. We toasted each other with some brandy.

Well done Francis, I take my hat off to you. You would do well on the stage. I mean the legitimate stage, not the pokey little platforms that they use in clubs, or,' he added slyly, ships.'

You beast,' I said, throwing myself on him and giving him a deep kiss. Let's go to bed shall we.'

`Good idea. We've had a very exciting day and I have another idea that can round off the day perfectly,' he said as he stroked my bum. I put my hand into his crotch to help myself up off of him and felt that he was ready to take me on.

I led him upstairs and stopped at the first bedroom door.

`This is your room, mine is next door. Oh, the bathroom is down at the end.'

`What do you mean Francis. This is mine and that is yours. I didn't come along just to sleep alone.'

`Don't be silly my sweet. Don't forget that Beatrice does the rooms. Your bed has got be slept in, well at least used.'

`Oh, of course. Silly of me not to think of that. Well I'll just toss about in the bed and think of you.' I patted his cheek and went to the other room. I couldn't very well go to my old room, so I had to settle for this one. I stood in that room, which was almost the same as mine down the hall, and looked around it. Tonight I would lay Donald's ghost to rest, God bless him. I got undressed and made sure there were four condoms on the side as I lay down on the bed to wait for Harry.

Next day, with four used condoms flushed down the toilet, we had a late breakfast and were up at the pub for opening time. Harry and I didn't drink a lot, but I made a point of buying one for all those who came in for a drink. Such was the curiosity value of the visit of Francis's twin brother, I think they all turned up during that lunch time. There were lots of comments and jokes and Harry liked the one that was said that if I wore a wig, I would just look like her. I'd like to see that, Harry laughed. We stayed till closing time and with many farewells said, Harry and I went back down to the house. I couldn't resist looking back to make sure a vehicle wasn't parked up at the top.

We slept the afternoon away, in separate beds till Flora called us for dinner. I loved Flora's cooking and wished I could stay longer, but it was better to be prudent, so I told her we were leaving the next day. She asked after Francis but I couldn't tell her when she would be back, believing that she was in Europe on some tour. But, if she had any messages she wished me to pass on, I would only be too happy to deliver them when I saw her in Paris very soon.

With the ghost of Donald laid, I welcomed Harry into my bed where I gloried in him entering me and loving me till he came in his usual shuddering bursts. I then used Harry and loved his small cries of endearment as I fucked him. The other two condoms were used in the morning. After breakfast, Allen was summoned and he took us off to Trowbridge train station.

We spent most of the next two weeks plus in the flat, eating, sleeping and trying every position we could think of to have sex in. Then it was time for me to go to Paris. An Air France plane took me from London to Orly where a limousine waited to take me to the best hotel in Paris. There I was greeted by a host of people of various functions within the French government. The Master of Protocol led me through the ceremony that would take place the next day, and by the time all this had finished, I was then banqueted and put to bed almost legless.

I was presented next morning with a morning suit, which I suppose was the right thing to wear that time of the day. When ready, there was a cavalcade of cars, with me inside, that roared their way to the Elysee Palace, blaring motorcycles as outriders.

At the palace, I did as I was told and was soon led through massive rooms that survived the Revolution and when I was there, being pushed forward to meet President Vincent Auriol.

After a short speech by him, he presented me with the Legion of Honour before kissing me on both cheeks and shaking my hand. I was then beckoned away as somebody else was to receive some other award, mine being the only Legion person that day. Then it was a grand lunch before I was escorted back to my hotel for the night.

The short flight back to London was First Class and I was not surprised to see a car waiting for me. This took me to Whitehall and I was soon in Frobisher's office.

`Congratulations Francis. That is now, what, Queen of the Seas, Flower of the Desert and now a Legion of Honour. What comes next, the Congressional Medal of Honour, a Knighthood?'

`Sarcasm, well you know the line, and I'm ashamed of you.'

You are perfectly correct Francis, I apologise. Please forgive me and have a glass of sherry. It doesn't do the British Government any harm to have an Englishman receive that honour, believe me.' He passed me over a glass of his sherry and raised it to me before taking a sip. Now how did it go in the village as your own twin brother?'

`Better than I expected. I was immediately accepted and made to feel most welcome, it was wonderful.'

`How is your wound?'

`Much better. I hardly feel it at all now.'

`Good, because we've set the aborted mission back up again. You hadn't forgotten this, had you?'

`No,' I lied.

`Right. Your first gig is three nights from now in Paris for the week. Then one day travel to Hamburg for another week and the same again in Berlin. Do you remember all that you've got to do?'

`Yes,' I said in a low voice.

`Well good luck Francis. Wesson will collect you and I'll see you again in, what, four weeks?'

I had a lot to do and only one full day to do it in. So there was washing and ironing of clothes, singing all day long to get my voice back in form. Then the checking and packing of my trunk as well as a suitcase. A quick dash out to the shops after checking the make-up kit. It was late when I was satisfied with all my arrangements, and I was too tired to make love to Harry, but welcomed his loving to me. I made the most of it as I would not be getting any for a couple of weeks.

I was dressed in my French suit and Harry helped Palmer down with my trunk and then suitcase and vanity case. Here Wesson gave a hand to load the car before I drew Harry back inside the building for a last kiss before going off. He and Palmer gave us a wave as the car pulled away and I settled back feeling somewhat secure knowing that Wesson was going to be near me all the time. I had put out of my mind the fact that I would be in the Russian Zone of Berlin, hopefully, only for one night out of his sight.

We separated for the checking in line at the airport. Me to the First Class queue while he went Economy. If I'd gone with Wesson, I would have had to pay excess on my baggage weight. A taxi took me from the airport to a modest hotel that befitted my persona and was pleased to see Wesson arrive just as I was going up to my room.

I didn't go sightseeing but went direct with my trunk to the club. A cleaner helped me get it inside and into a communal dressing room. I had to wait an hour before the stage manager arrived to find out the set up. Not having done a cabaret before, I didn't know the ropes, nor worked with transvestites either. He told me the way that it worked was by my having to be on stage for two songs, wait until all have been on and then go out again for another two. I might, depending on who failed to show up, have to do some extra turns. Most unreliable these type of people he finished off, leaving me with still a lot of questions unanswered. The group was a trio and I found out that they could play my stuff, so I gave them copies of what I would be doing and went off to the dressing room to start getting changed.

There were two other men in the room already, half dressed and working on their faces before the fly spotted mirror that ran the length of the dressing table. There were six chairs and they occupied what would the fourth and fifth chair, so I gathered there was a pecking order in this place, so I put my vanity case on the table before the first chair, the one nearest the door. This meant that I would get knocked every time somebody went in or out of the room.

Hello, you must be the new girl,' said the one in the furthest chair turning to look at me, a pretty one too. My name is Jean-Paul, Paulette. We only use our stage names in here, and this is Lili.'

`Hello. My name then is Jaqueline. I assume that this is my seat?'

`Yes. The one next to you is for Michelle, then Claudette, if she shows up and at the top of the heap is Rose,' Lili said before turning back to the mirror. I got my vanity case open and placed out what I needed to do my face with. I was going to use the Oriental look and wear my cheongsam for my debut. I'd already taken off my shirt and tie and trousers and just sat there in my underpants as I made up my face.

Oh what a pretty madam we've got here,' said a loud voice from one of the two that entered. Fresh meat for the hungry hordes.' She banged into my chair as she went past and sat at the far end. Rose! The other one simpered and sat next to me. Michelle! I kept on with my make-up because I knew that I would have to go out there first. Finally satisfied, I went to my trunk and got out my dress, wig, shoes and thong. Then Claudette burst in and quickly brushed past me to sit down in her chair.

Late again?' Rose sneered, Did his dick get stuck in your arse?' Michelle sniggered as if it was funny. I quickly dropped my pants and put on my thong. Then slipping the tight dress over my head, being careful of the make-up, a padded bra not being needed for this dress. Then I put on my wig, the black one I carried for this dress and now I was ready, apart from my shoes which I wouldn't put on till I had to go.

`Well just look at our Chinese queen, Miss Fuk Mee!' Rose called out from her seat. She was big, but I could see that the fat on the arms was flabby and knew that she intimidated by size rather than brawn. Michelle did her little sniggering bit. I ignored them and checked my make-up again just as I heard the trio start up. I slipped on my shoes and went out to be ready for my cue. I looked out through the curtain, butterflies in my stomach. This was to be my first paying public as it were and I hadn't performed in front of an audience for nearly a year now.

There were many little tables scattered around the club and single men occupied half of them. Then I guessed that they had come here not just to see the show, but to pick up one of the performers. It took a few minutes before I spotted Wesson, sitting alone like the others. Then the trio started with my music and now I wasn't sure if I'd chosen the right piece to start with. It was "Anything goes". I went out and sang and did a little dance as an Oriental would have done. I got a good round of applause at the end of that and then an even

bigger one at the end of my second song.

I was flushed with pleasure when I returned to the dressing room as Michelle was about to go on.

`They were just being kind to you on your first time,' Rose sneered.

`Never mind her. That was very good,' said Paulette. I took my time changing for it would be a good thirty minutes before I was on again. This time, I changed my make-up and used the blonde wig, an evening dress that was cut away at the front so that when I danced, the tops of my stockings would be seen as well as a flash of thigh. The girls had been coming and going and when Rose came in to the desultory clapping of her performance.

`Cretins!' she raved as she barged past my chair as I was getting up for my second stint. There were some cheers and whistles as I emerged onto the stage as well as some clapping. That was even before I opened my mouth and I guessed that this wouldn't go down well with Rose. So I did my second part and finished to a rousing cheer and applause. A lot of the tables were occupied by now, though only a few had two men at them.

`That was terrific,' said Paulette as I entered the room. I took my wig off and dropped it on the table and took off my dress and went to hang it up next to my cheongsam. Then I saw to my horror that my Oriental dress had been slashed to ribbons.

`Who did this to my dress?' I cried out, swinging round. Michelle, who was next to go on, sniggered. I pulled her hair back so that she swung round in the chair and I stuck two fingers up her nostrils, forcing her head back. My palm was facing upwards so that my fingers were like hooks up her nose.

If you think that was funny, think how your nose would look if I pulled them down now,' I snarled at her. Hers eyes had gone wide and huge in fright. Well! Who did it?' I looked along the line of faces and I saw Paulette flick her eyes towards Rose. I released Michelle who quickly got a tissue to check if her nose was bleeding or not.

`Paulette, Lili, move out of the way please,' as I moved towards Rose, slipping my shoes off so that I was in my stockinged feet. They both got up hurriedly and moved towards the doorway. I stopped just to one side and slightly behind Rose and looked at her reflection in the mirror to see the sneer on her face.

`Well! Did you do it?'

`What if I did,' she answered.

I moved fast, snatching at the arm on the dressing table, pulling it back with one hand as the other pushed at the back of her head as hard as I could so that her face smashed down onto the table. We all heard the crunch of bones splintering as blood spurted out from both sides of her squashed face. There were gasps from behind me and in the mirror, I saw the glint of a knife coming towards my back. I suddenly dropped to the floor, my action fractionally slowing the assailant as I twisted as I landed on my good side and did a reverse scissors action. This caught Michelle by surprise as my left leg caught her behind the ankles as my bent right leg now straightened up and slammed into her knees. This sent her crashing backwards onto the floor and I was up on my feet in an instant and on her as I grabbed the knife hand and broke her arm at the elbow. She screamed out at the pain and writhed on the floor holding it as I got up.

The others were all huddled by the door, their mouths open in horror and surprise at the speed of the action which had only lasted about fifteen seconds from start to finish. Thank you Wesson, I silently said to myself. I wasn't even breathing hard as I put my dress back on and slipped into my shoes.

If anyone ever,' I stressed this word, ever touches my things again. They'll spend the rest of their life performing from a wheel chair. I think you're due to go on next Claudette, er, Michelle is indisposed.' I was pushed past them and bumped into the stage manager trying to get in.

`There's been an accident in there. Two of them fighting. I think you'd better get an ambulance. I'm going for a drink.' I pushed past the startled man and I could hear the babble of noise behind me. I grabbed a waiter and demanded a large gin and tonic. I then looked round at the tables to find Wesson. I saw where he was and started to wend my way through the tables. Four that I passed, the men stood up and invited me to sit with them. These I ignored and Wesson, seeing the reactions of the other men, stood up too as I approached his table. As though indecisive, I paused, and then accepted his offer to sit down.

`What the hell went on back there? We heard the screams and I was just about to come over,' he asked.

`Wait a minute,' I said as the waiter appeared with my drink. I took a big mouthful and savoured it as my pumping heart started to slow down and the exultation that began to flood into my body at what I had just done. I let the drink slowly slide down my parched throat.

`You were terrific up there. Both times! I just couldn't believe it. Just like the first time. I didn't know you could sing like that.'

I patted his hand and signalled to the waiter for another drink as I drained that glass.

`Thank you Wesson,' I said.

`For what? It's true. You did very well up there.'

`No, the thank you was for throwing me around in the gym for all those weeks. You just said I did well up there, well you should have seen what I did in there,' indicating the dressing room as my second drink appeared.

`Well? What happened in there?'

Wesson. Do you really know where we are? What this club is? It's a pick up place for men who like men that dress up as women, and people are starting to look at us,' I hissed. Bring your chair closer and pat my hand and whisper into my ear.' He understood immediately and moved closer and did as I asked. I gave out a laugh as though he had said something funny. Then two ambulance men came into the club and were directed into the dressing room by the stage manager.

`There are two non-combatants in there that need hospitalisation. That is why I thanked you.' I then told him of what had occurred.

`I wish I'd seen that,' he whispered into my ear.

I think I needed you more in there that out here,' I said with a laugh, but I don't think I'll have any more trouble as far as that goes. So it's shopping tomorrow to get a new cheongsam, pity, because that was something special.'

Claudette had finished her two songs, which she had made a right hash of, due to nerves I think. Lili was on now, so it would soon be my turn.

I'd better go, because I've got to get ready,' I said as I finished my drink. I stood up and whispered into his ear, When I next come out, order a bottle of champagne, that's the whole idea of these places. Now stroke my arse as I leave, and make it look as though you mean it.' I straightened up and turned to leave and he did stroke my bum and it sent a little shiver down my spine as I went back to the dressing room.

That was marvellous to watch, even though it was horrifying,' Paulette said as I went in. She was ready to go out and the two bodies had been taken away. Henri was frantic. It was lovely to watch him try to tear out the hair he hasn't got any longer. You were wonderful,' and she gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wish I had done that years ago.' I started to put my make-up back in my case. You're not leaving after that, are you?' She looked horrified.

`No. Just moving up the order,' I said as I went up to the top seat and swept all of Rose's things onto the floor. Then wiped the blood away with some tissues and sat down, a little smile on my face.

We had to do extra stints because of what I had done, but it had been worth it. To finish off the night, I went out in a black dress and flat shoes, making myself as small as possible, and because I could drop my voice, did very well as Edith Piaf, especially with her song of "No regrets". I got a standing ovation for that.

At the end of this, the others came out and took their bows and took off their wigs to show that we really were males in drag. I didn't like doing that, and refused to take mine off. Keep them guessing is the name of the game.

Wesson was waiting along with some other men for us to come out of our dressing room to be escorted off to wherever they were going to go and do whatever they were going to do. I must say he looked uncomfortable knowing what the others were there for and them assuming that he was too. I laughed when he told me. You'll get used to it I assured him.

We got back to our hotel and went to our own rooms where I had a long lovely bath. I lay there in the hot soothing water and relived the excitement of the fight. I excited myself so much that I got an erection there in the bath and had to jerk myself off to relieve the pressure.

Early next morning, I went off to one of the best fashion houses with my tattered cheongsam and asked for another to be made that day. Impossible, I was told. One week at the earliest.

`This was made in Hong Kong in four hours, and you say one week. Why do you think I came here? Your place is supposed to be the best. I'm prepared to pay whatever it costs for it to be ready before you close.' Then I pulled a stunt that I'm not ashamed of. I turned back my lapel to reveal my medal.

The Legion of Honour. Oh my God,' the woman stuttered. (Mind you, this was all said in French and it really sounds much more dramatic in that language). Then you must be Mr. Lyon. It will be done, even if I have to do it myself,' the now fawning woman said adamantly. Thanking her, I left her with the tattered dress and went back to the hotel.

I collected it that afternoon, paying an exorbitant amount for it, but I expected that. At the club, there was no argument as I took the top seat at the mirror and the evening was a good one. The club was full from the beginning of the cabaret till we finished. At the end of the week, the club's owner asked me to stay on as a permanent star for the place, but I had to tell him that I was booked for Hamburg. The girls were as good as gold, and I think they were sorry to see me go, new ones being there to replace the two I had displaced. The room had developed a gaiety where before had been despondency.

Wesson and I travelled by road up to Hamburg, where we started all over again. Word had preceded me, which must have been from Paulette, because she was the only I had told the name of the club I would be going to. I was greeted with some wariness that soon developed into warmth when they found that I wasn't an overbearing queen. Wesson actually got into a fight when we were there. One man wanted to take me over from him and thought he could do it physically. Wrong! Wesson laid him out and personally picked him up and tossed him out into the street. This was only our second night there, and as the patrons saw that I went with Wesson all the time, I was then left alone.

Again, I was asked to stay on, but declined. We travelled again by road. The club we were going to had been closed during the blockade, but was now a thriving place. That is why we were now able to drive into Berlin. I keep saying Berlin when I should really be saying West Berlin, the city being divided. All the way down, Wesson, who spoke German, helped me with what I hoped would be my show stopper. As the club was called The Blue Angel with pictures of Marlene all over the place, I was going to sing "Lili Marlene". By the time we got there, I had the accent right.

I didn't start off very well, due to nerves I think. This was where I had to be picked up by the Russian General, to be taken back to his place for him to bed me, and get photos of the inside of his house. He didn't show that first night. Nor the next and hadn't shown when it came down to my last night there.

Then as I came out for my first song, I saw him sitting at a table with two other men. My heart gave a jump, trepidation or relief I don't know. I glanced and saw Wesson who gave a slight nod to say that he too had recognised him. The general was in civilian clothes as were his bodyguards (?). I went into my routine and back to the dressing room when I'd finished. I didn't mingle during that break, but I did at the second one. A waiter touched my arm as I came out from the curtain and indicated that very table.

One man released his chair for me to sit down, which I did while he got another one. The General spoke to me first in Russian, then German before English.

`I am French, but speak English Mr, er?'

`Call me Sergey and your name I believe is Jaqueline?' I nodded and he snapped his fingers and a bottle of champagne was on the table in an instant in its ice bucket. One of his henchmen popped the cork and poured out two glasses, one of which was given to me.

`Prosit.'

`Salud.' I wasn't going to be caught out by saying cheers.

`I liked your singing and I think I like you,' he said, beginning to stroke my arm.

`Thank you,' I said, not stopping his hand from moving.

`I haven't seen you here before.'

`I've been here for the week. I'm off to Paris tomorrow.'

Tomorrow! Just when I was getting to know you,' his hand now moved up to my neck as he began to stroke that. I would like to get to know you a bit more intimately,' he said softly in my ear.

`Do you mean what I think you mean?' I said a little coyly.

I think you do,' he chuckled, his hand running down my back and touching the top of my bum on the chair before finishing up on my upper thigh under the table. After all, if it's your last night here, why don't we enjoy it together?' His hand now rubbing up the inner side of my thigh.

`Are you a big enough man to do that?' I asked, my hand now under the table and finding that he had an erection inside his trousers.

`It gets bigger when exposed. I've not had complaints before.'

`I'll think about it. I must go now. I'm back on in a minute.'

`I'll stay here till you say yes,' he said as I left the table. Got you I said to myself as I went back to check my make-up. I'd told the group as I went off what would be the song I wanted. So dressed up exactly as Dietrich had done for the film in 1930. The music cued and the stage lights went out just long enough for someone to put a lamppost prop there for me and I stood leaning against it in her classic pose. When the lights came on, there was a good round of applause and I huskily sang her famous song.

What an applause I got at the finish and they shouted out for more, an encore. Some of these voices I heard were shouting out in English.

For those boys over there,' I said in English with a French accent, I'll sing it in English, though by the look of you, you weren't even born when this was sung.' With the laughs, I sang it again in English. More rapturous applause when I finished.

I went back into the dressing room and changed into what would be my last costume for the evening, as well as the trip if all went well. I also took off my thong and packed that away. Then I went back out into the audience and sat down with Sergey. He kissed my hand as another glass of champagne was poured out for me.

`That was stupendous! Never since she sang that song have I heard it sung so well. My congratulations.' His hand went under the table and up onto my thigh.

`Have you thought about tonight,' he asked, his hand moving higher up my leg. I put my hands under the table and pulled the bottom of my dress right up.

`Do you know what's under this dress?' I whispered to him.

Of course,' he smiled as his hand went right up and felt my cock and balls. These he fondled as he said, but it's what you're sitting on that I want.' His hand then took mine and placed it on his erect, covered cock, `and this is what wants to go there.'

`I can hardly wait,' I said huskily, letting my eyes go a little hazy. He saw the look and almost drooled.

`I've got two more songs to do and then we can go. We can go to my hotel...'

No,' he said, we will go to my place.'

`Where's that?' I asked.

`In the Russian sector.'

What!' I made it almost into a strangled shout. I can't go there. I haven't got a visa!'

`You can. I will be your visa. I am General Sergey Dolonomov,' he stated proudly.

Oh my God,' I said with a girlish giggle, and I whispered in his ear, and I'm going to be fucked by a General? Wow,' and I gave his cock an extra rub.

`You won't be disappointed cheri,' he said as I left the table, making the agreed signal for Wesson that it was fixed. Now I was all fired up that I was going to get a bit of cock tonight and that my mission was on.

I was glad when the show finished and I had to fight off the manager for a return engagement, all very complimentary, but out of the question. I made sure that I had my cigarettes, which I didn't like, but had been practising on, and the lighter camera. Also I carried my passport, all this in my little handbag.

The three men stood up as I emerged from behind the curtain and I was escorted out to a waiting car. I was squashed in between the General and one his men as we set off for the Russian sector.

You do have your passport with you?' he asked, and I passed it to him. He flipped through it. England, Spain, Germany. Now we will have a stamp of Russia put in. Ha,' he laughed, `and a Russian in you too later.' He laughed heartily at his own joke. I laughed with him and caressed his thigh to the check point. Our passports were checked before we could leave the English side, and then not much further on, we stopped at the Russian side of Berlin. There was much saluting and talk in Russian, some papers were passed across which he put inside his coat and then my passport was handed over and we had to wait for a few minutes before it was handed back. The general said some more words to the border guard and in front of him, he signed across the new stamp. This done, we carried on with our journey. Now I was really on my own because Wesson couldn't follow me here.

Don't lose this,' Sergey laughed. I've signed it so that they will let you back out again. Without it, you might have to stay here. Now that might not be a bad idea.' He saw the stricken look on my face and quickly patted my hand. `No. I won't keep you. You'll come back this way and they will let you go on through.' With that comforting, but still niggling thought, I settled back to continue stroking his leg till we pulled into the grounds of a large house on the other side of the divided city.

Home,' he said proudly. Belonged to some rich Jew before the Nazi's took it over. Then we took it off them. What they call in English I believe, swings and roundabouts,' and he gave out a good laugh.

Come,' he said, getting out of the car, let's go and have a decent drink instead of the muck that they call champagne.' I followed him up the steps into this huge hall. I'd already undone the clasp of my bag, and now I let the bag fall and the contents spill onto the parquet flooring. As we retrieved the contents, I saw just off to the right of the door, a huge control panel with many buttons and switches which I would have to try and photograph. Then we went past the sweeping staircase and into what was obviously his study.

There he went to a sideboard and poured out two large measures of what I guessed to be vodka. I tossed it back as he had done and nearly choked on it. Pure neat vodka at least a hundred proof. He laughed and poured me another and I saw him take the papers he had got at the border out of his coat.

`May I smoke in here,' I asked, waving the packet of cigarettes.

`Certainly. I prefer cigars myself, Cuban. Got to support their exports.' I got a cigarette out and fussed with the lighter as I saw him reach under his desk, where there must have been a button or some such thing. Then he turned and pulled at the picture that was on the wall behind the desk. It swung back on hinges to reveal a safe. I managed to get three pictures before lighting the cigarette. One would be good I thought, because he had dropped one piece of paper and while he was bending down to retrieve it, I had a clear sight of the safe. Part one, I thought as I sat there trembling, puffing away on this horrible cigarette. He finished at the safe and was soon next to me and he finished his second drink and said it was time for bed. I stubbed out the cigarette and winced as I swallowed the last of that neat spirit down. I got up from the chair and went with him, but I had left the cigarettes and lighter behind.

We went upstairs and along to what was his bedroom. Here, for the first time, he took me into his arms and kissed me.

`Let's not waste time,' he whispered and letting me go, he quickly undressed, flinging his clothes aside until he was naked. I'd only got my dress off by that time and I stood before him in just bra, belt and stockings. He was big and hairy. Hair all over his body and this made his big erection stand out from the fur.

`Oh what a man,' I cried as I went down on my knees and took him into my mouth. I had seen the expression of pride on his face at what I had said before consuming him.

`There's nothing better than a Russian cock,' he said as he held my head in his hands and rocked to and fro, his piece moving in and out between my tightly closed lips. I tongued him as much as I could before he stood me up and pulled me across to the bed. Without any further ado, he turned me round and bent me over and pushed himself into me. I gurgled at the swift entry and then gave myself up to the pleasure of being fucked for the first time in weeks. He was good and knew how to use his cock. He reamed me lovely and I even drooled at the thrill I was getting. He might have been old, but he had the strength to take me again in less than half an hour. I went off to the bathroom to clean him up, as he didn't use a condom before I went down on him and brought him back up to size again. This time I straddled him and kept on pounding till he came for the third time. I washed him again as he fell asleep.

I was a bit sore, but he did know how to fuck. I stayed awake for an hour before I got off the bed and donned a bathrobe. I saw that it was now just past four in the morning as I went down stairs. Security within the building was bad. I was able to get my cigarettes and take them out into the hall and take some photographs of the alarm system, and then back into the study to take some more of the safe picture and of the windows. I was back upstairs and on the bed without anyone seeing me, it had been that easy.

I still couldn't get to sleep and I watched the clock creep round to seven before I went down on him and woke him up in both senses of the word. He fucked me twice more before he cried off and went and had a shower.

`Jaqueline. It's a pity that you've got to go back. You've given me more pleasure than any before you.' He gave me a sweet kiss and said that I could stay till I'd had breakfast and then a car would take me back to the British sector. He gave me one last kiss before he left to go to work. I managed to doze off for a while until a man brought me in some breakfast, that wasn't very appetising, but the coffee was good and strong.

I got up and got dressed and did what I could in making up with what little I had in my bag. Then I went downstairs, some of the staff watching me and I didn't feel the slightest bit ashamed that they all knew that the general had spent the night fucking me, because I, if I got back, had fucked them all too.

As promised, a car was waiting and it drove me back through East Berlin to the border. There was a lot of activity going on, guards all over the place with guns at the ready, but they were facing the other way. My heart had started to pound when I had first seen them, and there was a lot of shouting, orders being given. My passport was taken away and then I was told to get out of the car and taken into a small office. My heart was going even faster now as I saw the car that had brought me here, turn round and drive off back.

To be continued.

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